oe albany



March 8, 1932. o. LORENZO E.T AL- ELECTRIC SWI'IIC'H Filed Sept. "21, ,1927

' R ET /7811 /a 7"I0/7 oyE A R LO R E JOHN w CONWAY BY 5 J! ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATE PO IC OSCAR LORENZO, on ALBANY, AND JOHN WQLCONWAY, OF'ME HANIGVILLE, Yong,

ASSIGNORS T0 CONSOLIDATED CAR-HEATING GOMPANY,- me, or ALBANY, new

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRIC swrron Application. filed September 1927. Serial No. 221,099.

For a detailed description of the present form of our invention, reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein 1 Figs. 1 and 2 show plans of our switch in its closed and open conditions respectively.

Our invention relates to a limit switch of the toggle type with a specially arranged lever for'maintaining substantial pressure on a. the abutting contacts beyond the instant when the toggle breaks, so as to avoid arcing by reason of the chattering of the contacts one upon the other as the toggle flattens.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the stationary and B the movable contact. The latter consists of a metal cylinder with top and bottom trunnions which are pivoted re-' parallel levels F. Levers F and rod D constitute the two members of the toggle. The levers F are connected by link G to parallel levers H, which are pivoted on frame-plate K at the point H and are also jointed to push rod P. The frame-plate K is seated onrthe insulating base R and has two upturned abutments K and K on its opposite edges. A springE surrounding rod D tends to force the said rod away from contact B through which it extends and a spring Q, tends to force push-rod P outwards away from abutment K against which the spring Q, abuts.-

'When the switch is in its normal closed condition as shown in Fig.v 1, the spring E tends to force the movable contact B on the end of lever C against the stationary contact.

A, the spring reacting against levers F which,

in turn, react through link G and levers H against the abutment K the other as the toggle'fiattens. ing of the toggle compresses the spring E at andthereby increase the pressure of contact -B against stationary contact A. This pressure continues as the push-rod P is moved inward and the toggle is gradually flattened. As the toggle flattens and rod D protrudes furtherand further through contact B, the contact B is being rotated by the rod D and has a rubbing or grinding efiect oncontact A althoughthe two contacts are not separated but are still pressed forcibly-together.

It will be observed that the carrier G and the V are not concentric. Therefore, the toggle 'muststraighten and pass the line between the pivot of thecarrier C and the axis of rotation of the contact B before it can move said carrier,=and as shown, the toggle must break bepressure of contact B against the contact A fore it reaches this position. As a result, the.

will continue even when the toggle is completely flattened and in fact until after the instant when the toggle breaks and snaps over dead centre causing the contacts to fly apart.

Since the-switch is designed to serveas a limitfswitch it will remain open only so long as pressure is maintained on push-rod P. When that pressure is released, the superior power of spring Q, will instantly restore it to its normal closed condition. The advantage of'the maintained pressure on the contacts up to and beyond-the instant of break is to avoid arcing by chattering of the contacts one upon The flattenfirst, and therebymaintains the contact pressure up 'to' and beyond the instant of break and also has'force' stored init which, on release will spread the contacts apart. means a separate spring i. e. separate from the main spring Q, performstheaforesaid functions, which in ordinary practice are imposed on'one main spring, such asthe springQ..

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric switch comprising a stationary contact, a contact carrier, a contact movably supported by said carrier, a spring toggle having one arm movably engaging said movable contact, and operating means for said i By this toggle, said contact carrier and said toggle being independently and movably supported in adjacent positions, so that the contacts will be maintained in engagement beyond the breaking point of the toggle.

2-. an electric switch comprising ,a stationary contact, a contact carrier, a contact movably supported, by said carrier, a toggle having one member extending through said movable contact and movable with respect thereto, a spring interposed between said movably mounted contact and the joint .of said toggle, and operating means for said F toggle, said contact carrier .andsaid toggle being independently and movably supported in adjacent positions, so -.that the contacts will be maintained .in engagement :beyond the breakingpointoi :the toggle.

.3. Anelectric'switchlcomprising a stationary contact, a contact carrier, a contact movably supported by said carrier, a springtoggle having .oneanm movably engaging said movable \contact, means (normally acting to move the toggle in onedirectiomand means for temporarily imparting movement to :the toggle in the oppositedirection, said COIItHClE carrier and said toggle being independently and wmovably supported in adjacentpositions .so that :the contacts will 'be maintained in engagement :beyond the breaking point of the toggle.

4. electric. switch comprising a stationany :contact, a movable .canrier, acontact rotatably :mounted .insaid carrier, an actuating spring toggle, means forpimpanting .move- -1nent to the toggle, one memberof said :togg-le having a slidable engagementwithsaidirotat- .ab'lyzmonntedcontact,andmeans forimovably supporting said ;carrier and said itogg le in adjacent positions, so that engagement of said contacts willrbe .;maintained.beyond the breaking position oat the toggle.

5. An electric switch ofthe character described comprising .a stationary contact, a pivoted .carrier, .a cylindrical contact rotatably supported by saidcar-rier, an actuating toggle, and means for imparting movement :to said toggle, one member 50f said itoggle being extended through and "having slidab'le vengagement with said cylindrical contact, means for supporting the carrier and the toggle in adjacent positions, so that engage.- ment of said contacts will be maintained be yond the breaking position .of-the toggle, and a spring interposed between said cylindrical contact and the ointof the toggle;

Signed at Albany, county of Albany, State of New York, this 29th day of August, 1927.

OSCAR LORENZO. JOHN W. CONWAY. 

